Zac Posen | |
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.jpg) Posen in 2008 | |
| Born | Zachary E. Posen[1] (1980-10-24)October 24, 1980 (age 45) New York City, U.S. |
| Education | Parsons School of Design Central Saint Martins |
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| Awards | CFDA: Swarovski's Perry Ellis Award for Womenswear (2004) |
Zachary E. Posen (/zækˈpoʊzən/; born October 24, 1980) is an Americanfashion designer.
Zachary E. Posen was born and raised in aJewish family[2] inNew York City, residing in theSoHo neighborhood of lowerManhattan. He is the son of Susan (née Orzack), a corporate lawyer, and Stephen Arnold Posen, an artist.[3][4] He has family roots inShklow, Belarus, andŻychlin, Poland.[5] His interest in fashion design started early, and as a child he would stealyarmulkes from his grandparents' synagogue to make ball dresses for dolls.[6]
He attendedSaint Ann's School, a private school inBrooklyn and in his sophomore year interned with fashion designerNicole Miller.[7] As a teen, he also won aScholastic Art and Writing Award.[8] At age 16 he enrolled in the pre-college program atParsons The New School for Design.[9] He graduated from Saint Ann's in 1999. For three years, Posen was mentored by curator Richard Martin atThe Costume Institute ofThe Metropolitan Museum of Art. At age 18, he was accepted into the womenswear degree program at London'sCentral Saint Martins College of Art and Design at theUniversity of the Arts London. In 2001, Posen constructed a gown entirely made from thin leather strips and dressmaker hooks and eyes[10] that was displayed by theVictoria and Albert Museum and featured in their "Curvaceous" exhibition.[11]
In 2000, Posen received a prominent career opportunity after a dress he made forNaomi Campbell changed hands several times among several fashion insiders, including actressPaz de la Huerta.[10] He is famously well-connected and has called Stella Schnabel his muse.[12] ThroughInterview magazine Editor-in-Chief Ingrid Sischy, Posen met his future publicist and event producer Ed Filipowski of KCD, who offered to represent him for free.[12]
Upon returning to New York in 2001, Posen set up anatelier in his parents' living room, while they gave him aUSD$15 allowance.[12] In October of the same year, he was chosen to present acapsule collection as part of GenArt'sFresh Faces in Fashion New York 2001. He received a grant for $20,000.[9] After his first runway show in 2001, Posen was courted by fashion titans Yves Carcelle, president of LVMH Fashion Group; Sidney Toledano, CEO and director ofChristian Dior S.A.; andDomenico De Sole, president and CEO of Gucci Group NV.[13] Following the success of this presentation, Posen established his design studio in Laight StreetTribeca.[14]
Posen has become a favorite ofNatalie Portman,Rihanna,Amanda Seyfried,Kate Winslet,Claire Danes,Cameron Diaz,Jennifer Lopez,Mischa Barton,Beyoncé Knowles and others.[citation needed]
In 2004, fashion brandSean John made an investment deal with Posen.[15]Ashley Olsen interned with Posen in 2005 while she was a student atNew York University.[16]
In April 2008, Posen's capsule collection created in collaboration withTarget, Zac Posen for Target, was released in 75 stores in Australia.[17] A preview of the collection was shown during March's L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival.[citation needed]
At the 2012 Academy Awards,Glenn Close wore a Posen gown on the red carpet, as did bothReese Witherspoon andNaomi Watts at the 2013 Golden Globe Awards.[18] Other notables who have worn Posen creations on red carpets includeUma Thurman at the 2013 Met Ball);Sofia Vergara at the 2014 Golden Globes;Anna Chlumsky at the 2014 Emmy Awards; andRita Ora at the 2014 AMA Awards.[19]
In February 2014, Posen partnered with another major retailer,David's Bridal, to create Truly Zac Posen, a line of affordable bridal gowns.[20] The line was Posen's first official bridal collection.[21]
In 2014, he introduced a more casual Pre-Fall 2015 Trunk Show collection.[22]
In 2018, Posen was selected to redesign the uniforms forDelta Air Lines 60,000 employees. But just two years later, the airline jettisoned Posen's Purple Passport line after numerous flight attendants claimed the fabric was causing skin rashes and other allergic reactions.[23]
In 2018, Posen designed the blush silk gownPrincess Eugenie of York wore for her evening wedding reception.[24]
On November 1, 2019, House of Z and Z Spoke, the fashion brand owners of Posen's company, announced an immediate closure of the label.[25] The closure occurred soon after it was announced on August 6, 2019, thatBarneys New York, a major client of Posen's company, had filed for bankruptcy.[26] Shortly after, Centric Brands reportedly acquired the Zac Posen trademark at auction.[27] In May 2020, Centric Brands filed forChapter 11 bankruptcy protection due to the effects of theCOVID-19 pandemic.[28]
In 2014, Posen was named Creative Director forBrooks Brothers, tapped to modernize their signature women's clothing and accessories line.[29] He renewed his contract with Brooks Brothers in 2017.[30]
In February 2024, Posen was hired as the creative director ofGap and chief creative officer ofOld Navy as part of a strategy to revitalize the brands.[31] Posen is the first executive-level creative lead for Gap inc since the 2011 departure ofPatrick Robinson.
On December 18, 2012, Posen was announced as an official judge onProject Runway starting with season 11, staying on until after season 16.[32] On September 7, 2018, it was announced that Posen would not be returning toProject Runway for a 17th season on Bravo.[33]
In October 2017, Posen's 288-page cookbook was published byRodale. It is described as having "100 recipes every bit as decadent and inspiring as his designs."[34]
In 2021, Posen released a collection of genderless wedding rings.[35]
Posen's awards include theCouncil of Fashion Designers of America's 2004 Swarovski's Perry Ellis Award for Womenswear.[36]
Posen is openly gay.[37] In 2023, he became engaged to Harrison Ball, a principal dancer at theNew York City Ballet.[38]
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The rumors are true! Click "Like" to help us welcome featured judge Zac Posen to "Project Runway" Season 11
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